An Oasis For Artists In Southbury

Story & Photos By

Nancy K. Crevier

Karen Kensek and Sharon Rebisz have more that 25 years of experience between them in the field of selling art supplies. Both women worked for Koenig Art Emporium in Southbury for several years before becoming partners and taking ownership of the store five years ago.

Originally located where Super Stop & Shop now stands in Southbury Plaza, Koenig Art Emporium relocated to another section of the of North Main Street plaza two-and-a-half years ago, allowing Ms Kensek and Ms Rebisz to expand their merchandise. The art supply store is now just two stores up from Kmart, near the entrance to the plaza.

“We were able to add new lines of art supplies and gift items that people had been asking for, when we moved,” said Ms Kensek. They have created an oasis for artists, where amateur and professionals can quench their thirst for supplies, and a store where young and old find a haven for browsing.

It is a dizzying array of color and displays. Wind chimes stir in the breeze each time the door opens, and mobiles spin, suspended from barely visible threads. A display of picture framing options in gold and various wood hues wedged tightly together covers one wall behind a counter, forming a work of art in itself. Row upon row of colored pens and pencils beckon, and glittering pins and pendants invite further perusal.

The store offers on-premises framing services; paints, pastels, papers, charcoals, sketchbooks, pens, portfolios and a wide variety of other art supplies; art books, jewelry, handbags, wind chimes, and scarves; greeting cards to make and others ready to give; and boasts a children’s art area, as well.

Shoppers are treated to a changing art show, featuring local artists every month in the store, too, said Ms Kensek.

“Supplying art students is a big part of our business,” Ms Rebisz said, adding that approximately 60 percent of their business is for art supplies. “We carry a full line of supplies and offer a 15 percent discount to students with a class list.” The discount applies not only to college and high school students, but any student enrolled in art classes in the area, she said.

What makes their business stand out from craft stores that may carry similar products, said Ms Kensek and Ms Rebisz, is their knowledgeable staff.

“We have the knowledge within the staff about nearly every medium,” said Ms Kensek. “We understand the products that we sell.”

Knowledge of the products is essential, added Ms Rebisz. “Customers sometimes need help in determining what they need. You have to do a lot of probing to find out what is going to work best for their project.”

Both women are self-taught artists and experiment with the new products and new ways to use old products all of the time, they said. Ms Kensek is a photographer, and is experienced in gouache and watercolor painting. Ms Rebisz is a ceramic artist.

“You learn something new every day here,” said Ms Rebisz. “We learn a lot about new products and new applications from our customers.” What they learn they can then pass on to other customers, they said.

“I’ve tried just about everything we carry in the art section,” said Ms Kensek. She has been trying products since she first started working at Koenig’s at age 16. Her new favorite, though, is the Speedy-Cut carving block for linoleum printing. “It is so much easier to handle than the old linoleum blocks,” she said.

Ms Rebisz favors the liquid Golden paints that they have recently added to their paint line.

“They are fabulous. It is a very smooth product and the colors are vibrant,” she said. She admires the versatility of the product, as well. “It can be used in many mediums,” said Ms Rebisz.

The women look forward to continuing to provide customers with personal service and a warm welcome. They are always eager, they said, to help find the perfect gift or product for their clients. Customers should not be surprised, though, to be greeted by Yogi, the resident Yorkshire terrier, or his Yorkie and Chihuahua pals who frequent the shop; and pausing from shopping to admire Pablo Diablo, the African siclid fish in the tank near the checkout, is quite all right with both owners.

 

Koenig Art Emporium is at 100 Main Street North in Southbury Plaza, just off Exit 15 on Interstate 84. The shop is open Monday through Friday from 9 am to 7 pm; Saturday, 9 am to 6 pm; and Sunday, 10 am to 3 pm. For more information call 264-2860.